A Car Nearly Hit Her On A Crosswalk, Poor Dad Pulled Her Back Not Knowing She Was A CEO In Love
Bridging Two Worlds
The bakery was cozy and smelled like sugar and cinnamon. Cara sat at the window with a chocolate milk mustache.
She chattered about T-Rexes and jelly beans. Mark sat across from Tessa, his coffee untouched.
“So, what do you really do?” Tessa sipped her espresso.
“I run a company. Tech. We build software for private security services.”
He blinked. “That’s specific.”
“It’s my company. I started it after grad school.”
“Wait,” he said slowly. “You’re the CEO?”
“Yeah,” she shrugged, like it wasn’t a big deal. “I don’t usually lead with that.”
He sat back. “Wow. That’s impressive.”
“I didn’t do it alone.” Mark smiled a little.
“Still, you don’t look like the kind of woman who nearly gets hit by a car.”
Tessa laughed. “I’m not usually.”
They both looked at Cara. She was making Barry the bunny wear a napkin as a cape.
“So,” Tessa said carefully. “Is your wife working today?”
Mark blinked, then laughed. “Oh, no wife. It’s just me and Cara.”
She tilted her head. “Single dad?”
“Yeah,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “Cara’s mom left when she was two.”
“Haven’t heard from her since.” Tessa’s heart squeezed.
“That’s awful.” He gave a half smile.
“It’s all right. Cara’s everything.”
It hit Tessa in a place she wasn’t expecting. She leaned forward.
“I don’t usually eat cinnamon rolls with total strangers and their adorable daughters.”
He grinned. “Yeah, me neither. But apparently, I also don’t usually save CEOs from traffic.”
They both laughed. Outside, the city was moving again.
Tessa glanced at her watch. “I’ve got a meeting in 20 minutes.”
Mark nodded. “Of course. Important and CEO things.”
She hesitated. “But I’d like to see you again. Both of you.”
He looked surprised. “Really? I meant what I said. You saved my life.”
“All right, sure,” he said. “I mean, if you’re okay with cinnamon on everything.”
She smiled. “I like cinnamon.”
“Bye Tessa!” Cara waved from beside him.
“Bye Cara and Barry.” Tessa crouched to hug her.
She looked at Mark and said softly, “Don’t disappear, okay?”
“I won’t,” he said. She turned and walked away.
She didn’t know what this was. But she hadn’t smiled like that in a long time.
Mark Lawson was now all she could think about. Tessa adjusted her handbag and stepped into the elevator.
She was late, but for once, she didn’t care. Bri was waiting.
“Boardroom now. The investors moved the meeting up by half an hour.”
Tessa entered the boardroom to find twelve sharp-eyed people watching her.
She smiled coolly. “Let’s begin.”
Two hours later, she closed her laptop and stood.
“Unless anyone else would like to explain how cutting initiatives will improve valuation, we’re done here.”
No one spoke. Back in her office, Bri appeared with a latte and a folder.
“Your calendar’s clear for the next hour. You’ve got a charity gala next week.”
Tessa opened the folder. Inside was a photo of her father, young and smiling.
She stared at the picture, her thoughts drifting back to Mark.
The next afternoon, she was scanning the sidewalks near the library.
She spotted them on a park bench beneath an elm tree. Cara was coloring while Mark read a paperback.
Tessa approached slowly. Mark looked up, surprised but not displeased.
“Hey,” he said. “Didn’t expect to see you in kid territory.”
“I was in the neighborhood,” Tessa said. “Besides, someone promised me more cinnamon.”
Cara leapt to her feet. “Tessa! Barry drew a dragon!”
Tessa sat beside Mark. “What do you do, Mark?”
“Construction mostly, freelance,” he replied. “I was managing sites before Cara came to live with me.”
“But it’s hard to do that and be the one picking her up.”
“You can’t exactly tell a five-year-old to wait through a crane inspection.”
“So you gave it up?” He shrugged.
“I scaled it back. It’s not glamorous, but it keeps us fed.”
“You ever think of doing something else?” she asked.
“You offering me a job?” he laughed. “Maybe,” she said.
“I know people who need solid project managers.”
“Why are you here, Tessa?” Mark’s voice was low.
“Why are you sitting on a park bench with a kid and a guy who sometimes skips lunch?”
“I don’t know,” she said honestly. “Maybe because you’re the first person who didn’t ask for anything.”
“That’s because I didn’t know who you were.” “And now you do,” she said.
“Does it change anything?” “I don’t know yet.”
The gala was held at the Glass House. Tessa stood in a sleek black gown.
She’d invited him, but she didn’t think he would come. Then, the doors opened.
Mark wore a tailored navy jacket. “You’re here,” she said, stopping in front of him.
“Wasn’t sure I should be.” “I’m glad you are,” she said.
“This isn’t really my scene.” “It’s not mine either,” she said.
“But tonight it feels less impossible.” He took her hand.
“Is this a game to you?” he asked on the balcony.
“Because I can’t afford to be someone’s temporary escape.”
“I wasn’t pretending. I’m not pretending now.”
Mark searched her face. “So what is this?”
“I don’t know yet,” she admitted. “But I want to find out.”
“You don’t have to fit in here. You just have to be you.”
He reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
“I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone like you.”
“Good. Because I’ve never met anyone like you either.”
